Born to Be Wild More Details
DAY 1
Managua’s International Airport + Transfer to San Carlos, capital City of Río San Juan.
Once you get to Managua’s International airport, we will drive more than 4 hours to get to the city of San Carlos on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River entrance. We will spend the night here.
The San Juan River of Nicaragua is an undiscovered treasure, which offers a lot of history, natural beauty and the idiosyncrasy, generosity and hospitality of its inhabitants, which makes it a unique tourist destination in Central America. This spectacular river of around 190 kilometers that goes to the Atlantic Ocean originates in the great Lake Nicaragua or Lake Cocibolca.
On the banks of the river rest a large number of smaller rivers that come from the mountains, most of which are reserves such as the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, this makes Río San Juan a water drinking area for thousands of species that live in its surrounding shores and surrounding mountains.
DAY 2
City of San Carlos + Public Boat Drive to El Castillo + City Tour in El Castillo.
In the morning, we will have breakfast and at 9am we will take a boat which goes for about 2 more hours to El Castillo. Once we get there, we will have time to get to know the town and at 3pm, we will do the small city tour of El Castillo.
DAY 3
Walking Tour to Indio Maíz Biosphere Reserve + San Juan River Boat Tour (Manatees & Crocodiles)
Early breakfast today and then; we’ll go to one of the most amazing reserves in Nicaragua. Indio Maíz is about 1 hour from El Castillo, we go down the river, enjoying the vast wildlife, we’ll get into the reserve and walk in it for 2 hours in the heart of it. Once we are done, we go in our boat down the river to look for Manatees, big Crocodiles, birds, sloths, etc. Then we will go back to El Castillo around 4pm.
The Indio Maiz Biological Reserve is without a doubt, a natural paradise that is still little explored and which houses a large amount of biodiversity. The richness of its forests in terms of flora and fauna but also the important homework of this reserve using the huge amount of carbon dioxide and convert it into pure oxygen is what gives this reserve the consideration of being known as “The Lungs of Central America”
DAY 4
Public Boat to San Carlos + Public Boat to Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge + Boat Tour at Night.
Today, we will get up at 7am, we will have a delicious breakfast in our hotel and at 8:00 am, we will take our boat back to San Carlos. At 11:00 am, in San Carlos, we will take another boat to go through the Papaturro River in the middle of nature toward the Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge. Once in the Papaturro community, we will eat something and then, we will go for a walk along some trails looking for wildlife. This tour will also take us through hanging bridges to see animals from the treetops. At 7pm, we will take a boat to do a night tour into the heart of the Papaturro River. This beautiful tour takes 2 hours and we will see all kinds of animals.
Located South of Lake Nicaragua and west from San Juan River; Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Guatuzos) is place which has been cataloged by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. It was the first national wetland to become a RAMSAR site (international treaty for the environmental protection of the wetlands) in 1997. The reserve is named after the community of Los Guatuzos, an indigenous tribe that lived here and disappeared.
Los Guatuzos is a territory occupied mainly by the tropical rainforest. Here, the wetland ecosystem is predominant due to the 18 rivers, creeks and small lagoons located in it. The Reserve is also known for its rich variety of flowers, trees, and animals. Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge contains high populations of caimans, jaguars, panthers, families of howler monkeys and white-faced monkeys. There are also water turtles, iguanas, snakes, lizards, and other animal species.
DAY 5
Kayak Tour + Boat Tour to Solentiname Islands
Our main goal in this part of the country is to observe wildlife and nature in general. To make this possible, in the morning at 6am, we will have to be ready to do our Kayak tour in another area of Papaturro River, with this tour, we will go through small canals and areas where a regular motorboat would not be able to go. This tour will take about 4 hours. Once we are done, we will take all of our luggage and we will be picked up in a private boat to go to the Solentiname Archipelago.
Once in Solentiname we will do our check in. Mancarrón Hotel is the best one in this area. In the afternoon, we will do a tour on the Solentiname islands and enjoy nature, and enjoy the landscape as well. We will spend the night in this area.
The Solentiname Archipelago, also located in the southern area of Nicaragua is one of the best places to escape from the big metropolis to get into the heart of wildlife. If ever there was a place to truly escape the bustle of daily life, to switch off and disconnect, an island in the Archipelago will be waiting for you.
Hidden away in the far corner of Lake Nicaragua, life on the islands moves at a glacial pace. No matter how slow you may potter along the rambling pathways, it still feels as though you are rushing by compared with the rhythm of local life.
DAY 6
Solentiname - Private Boat Ride to Colon - Private Transfer to Granada + Masaya Volcano Lava Night Tour
In the morning, we have breakfast and then we take a private boat from Solentiname, about 2 hours around the lake to get to Colon, this is a town in mainland located in the southern part of Nicaragua. Our driver will be waiting for us there to take us to Granada on a ride which will last about 4 hours. Once in Granada we will have a delicious lunch to get ready for our next tour which will start by 4:00 pm.
The Masaya volcano is undoubtedly the most spectacular geological monument in Central America, and this place has an easy access that makes it very fascinating that can be explored by both natural tourists and scientists of all kinds; volcanologists, geologists, historians and anyone who wants to enjoy a wide variety of unique attractions are somehow obligated to come to this paradise.
This is a shield-shaped volcano which has allowed the authorities to build a paved road to the main crater and its very well-defined paths will take us to specific points where the human eye will delight.
The Tour: Our adventure will begin at 4:00 pm, we will drive 40 minutes to the entrance of the park, once we get into Masaya Volcano National Park, we obtain our tickets and drive approximately 6 kilometers to the Santiago active crater parking area; it will still be daytime here, so we’ll walk about 20 minutes to the different viewpoints to admire the different beauties that this park has to offer.
This National Park is not only lava, that is why we will arrive before sunset, and we will walk to the top of the Masaya Volcano, throughout the entire journey, from the beginning to the end, our certified and experienced tour guide will explain everything related to this park; its eruptive history and formation, its geology, flora, fauna and tourist importance of this park, in addition to the events that have occurred here over the years.
Once on the edge of the San Fernando and San Juan craters, we will obtain one of the most dazzling views of Central America, with also the most astronomical sunset in the region. From here we will contemplate, in addition to the geological ring called “El Ventarrón” in which the 54 square kilometers of the Masaya Volcano National Park rest; we will enjoy the volcanoes: Mombacho, Masaya, Nindirí, Momotombo, Momotombito (this last one if Managua City is not foggy), the Masaya lagoon, the Xolotlán Lake in Managua and Cocibolca Lake in Granada, the cities of: Managua (capital of Nicaragua), Masaya and Granada and if all this were not enough; get ready to admire the most exuberant sunset (if it’s not raining) of this Land of Lakes and Volcanoes. Here, the sun’s rays play with the steam that comes out of the Santiago crater, this mixture of sun rays and volcanic gasses form a spectacular phenomenon that is admired every year by thousands of tourists from all over the world.
Once the sun is gone, we walk back to the active crater of Santiago, to observe a gigantic and divine lava lake at the bottom of it. We will be at this area for 10 to 30 minutes so that you can take the photos you want and record this tour in your memory as one of the best of your life. Once this tour is finished, we will drive approximately 40 minutes to return to Granada where we will be arriving around 7:30 pm.
DAY 7
Adventure Tours in Rural Community
The communities of Charco Muerto and Los Cocos are located in the southwest side of the city of Granada, in front of the volcanic island of Zapatera and on the shores of Lake Cocibolca and if that’s not enough, this place is also located at the base of the Mombacho Volcano Cloud Forest which enrich Charco Muerto and Los Cocos with a vast variety of biodiversity. The geographical characteristic of this location has privileged these communities with spectacular panoramic landscapes such as coves, beaches, mountains, viewpoints, cliffs, underground waters and above all, beautiful people.
Our day will start early at 6:00 in the morning, at that time we leave Granada and take the Pan-American Highway for 30 minutes and then take a dirt road for almost 25 kilometers to the beach of Casa de Tejas Farm and Playas del Coco in front of Zapatera Island. The road is rustic, muddy and rocky, with streams and ravines, which makes the adventure more dynamic.
Once in the community of Los Cocos, we’ll walk for approximately an hour, passing through tropical forests, we’ll reach the top of a mountain with beautiful viewpoints where we can rest while admiring the spectacular views, after there, we’ll go down the mountain until we reach to the community of Charco Muerto; This is a peninsula with a very particular geological characteristic, full of coves, rocky walls and cliffs, this place is magical in the sight of those who visit it!
From there, we will go on horses to the base of the volcanic hill known as “La Lomona” (the big hill). From there, we will walk to the top of this hill for about 40 minutes. The majestic and dazzling views up there is something you are going to love. From above, you would see and take photos of the Zapatera archipelago, Lake Cocibolca and when it is clear, the imposing Concepción volcano of Ometepe Island can also be seen.
There at the top of La Lomona, we are going to have a picnic, grill beef and have a few beers while we relax for a while in the shade of a big tree. After about two hours, we will go back down to Charco Muerto and from there, by rowboat (you will have your own paddle) to where we left the motorcycles to return to Granada.
On the way back, we will stop by the crystalline and underground waters of Aguas Agrias, this tropical paradise is located at the base of the Mombacho volcano, the water comes from the Mombacho cloud forest, infiltrating through the underground sources and running for many kilometers until it flows here into this place which is perfect for swimming in its waters loaded with medicinal properties for a perfect relaxation. After this, we will return to Granada, arriving here around 5 in the afternoon.
*Very important: With this tour, you are supporting over 30 families and 140 people of these communities who are doing their best to improve their economic situation with these rural activities.
DAY 8
Transfer to the Airport – Back Home
We hope you have enjoyed your trip and hope you will come back again soon! After breakfast, you will be picked up in your hotel and you will be brought to the airport in a one-hour drive.
INCLUDES
- Air-Conditioned Land Transportation
- All Water Transportation
- Bilingual, experienced & certified Tour Guide
- All Entrance Fees
- All breakfasts
- Taxes
PLACES VISITED
- Granada
- Managua
- Rios San Juan